{"id":52438,"date":"2026-02-09T14:20:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T14:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/brighton-hove\/?p=52438"},"modified":"2026-02-09T14:26:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T14:26:16","slug":"farm-school-children-urge-everyone-to-follow-the-countryside-code","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/brighton-hove\/2026\/02\/09\/farm-school-children-urge-everyone-to-follow-the-countryside-code\/","title":{"rendered":"Farm school children urge everyone to follow The Countryside Code"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Children from St Martin\u2019s Church of England Primary School<\/a> in Brighton and farmers on the South Downs have made a film showing how to respect, protect and enjoy the countryside by following The Countryside Code.<\/p>

They are part of Farm School, a project based in Brighton & Hove that provides primary school children with hands-on experience of working farms, connecting them to local food, farming and nature through outdoor learning.<\/p>

\u201cWe love people coming onto the farm and enjoying the farm and also finding out about what we do,\u201d said farmer Abbie Carr from Ovingdean Grange Farm which features in the film.<\/p><\/blockquote>

The children were awarded certificates for appearing in the Brighton & Hove Farm School Countryside Code<\/a> film which can be viewed on YouTube.<\/p>

Farmers from 9 farms on the council\u2019s City Downland Estate have been giving the children guided tours, hands-on activities and nature walks to show how they farm and the nature conservation that goes alongside it.<\/p>

Farm School is a collaboration between the council, its tenant farmers, schools, and the Changing Chalk partnership. The four-year Changing Chalk project is supported by a \u00a32.23 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.<\/p>

Since the beginning of the project in 2023, 1,729 children have visited a local farm and 3,423 have taken part in Farm School, from webinars and assemblies to early years workshops.<\/p>

Councillor Tim Rowkins, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Net Zero & Environmental Services, said: \u201cFarms have shaped the landscape of the South Downs for hundreds of years and today they are sharing their farms, expertise & working life with school children from the city\u2019s primary schools.<\/p>

“Brighton & Hove is surrounded by the South Downs, much of which is publicly owned, with rare chalk grassland and farms which are at the heart of nature conservation and the production of healthy, local food.<\/p>

\u201cFarm School connects the people living and working in the countryside with the next generation eager to learn about the very special landscape of the South Downs and its biodiversity. By making The Countryside Code film, the children of St Martin\u2019s School are encouraging other children and adults to enjoy, protect and respect their local countryside.\u201d<\/p>

Lily, a teacher from Benfield Primary School, said: \u201cMany children who struggle in a traditional classroom setting have flourished on the farm, gaining confidence through hands-on tasks. Since getting back, there has been a shift in how children think about food, nature, and sustainability \u2013 many now understand the effort that goes into growing what\u2019s on their plate and have become more mindful of food waste.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

In the film, the children ask everyone to follow these 10 actions:<\/p>